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"The Dog Days of Summer" (a few miles outside of Toto Village) The unusually hot and dry weather was making it increasingly difficult to find food in the forest. The fruits and berries were either wilted away or never sprouted at all. There was no other choice. Kinnison hadn't eaten for days. All the food that was found was given to his one true companion Shiro. Even that wasn't much. A handful of unripened berries, a couple of rotten apples and a single small fish that was caught with the last of Kinnison's bait. The only option left was for Kinnison to make a rare trip into town for food and supplies. The only problem is that a man of nature doesn't have much in the way of income. After about an hour of walking in the desert-like conditions, Kinnison and Shiro finally made it into Toto Village. They walked around the town for a while and finally found a small tavern. Kinnison walked in,shadowed as always, by Shiro. The tavern was very lively, unusual for such a small village. As the two were walking in, a man behind the bar looked up and yelled at them. "HEY, NO DOGS ALLOWED!" "This isn't a dog sir, he's a wolf." Kinnison replied. "This is Shiro. He's my friend." "I don't care if its Lady Annabelle with some kinda of witches curse on her, I told you no dogs allowed!" "Please sir, I just want to get something to eat." "Oh Yeah? Well here's a bowl of rice. Its 200 potch. Pay up and get the hell outta here!" Kinnison sadly looked towards the ground, then looked back at the taverns owner and said "but I don't have any money." "What do you think this is boy, some kinda charity. Get the hell outta here!" Kinnison turned around and began to walk away. "Maybe one of the villagers would be kind enough to feed him. Maybe it was his fate to starve to death in the forest." thoughts quickly began circulating through his mind when the tavern owner spoke once again. "Hey kid, maybe you could earn that bowl of rice." Kinnison looked back at the man and walked toward him. He listened intently as the man explained what he needed. At this point, Kinnison would have done just about anything for just one grain of rice. "A few weeks back, I took a sword to a blacksmith in Muse to have it sharpened. Since then, the business in this little tavern here has really picked up. You know with the skirmishes at the border between the States and Highland increasing, people are getting a little antsy up in the city. They're abandoning that place like a sinking ship, trying to get to the small towns where Highland will probably ignore them if the war starts up again." "Could the war really be about to start all over again?" Kinnison thought to himself. He continued to listen to the bar keep speak. "With all this extra business, I haven't had time to return for my blade. I would really feel a lot more comfortable with it for protection just in case some bandit were to pick this tavern as his next target. So here's the deal, you go get my sword and bring it back, and I'll give you and your wolf there all the rice you can eat." "OK, I'll do it" Kinnison responded. "Smart kid. Just tell the blacksmith that Gregorio sent you. He'll know who you're talking about. And don't worry, its already paid for." Kinnison turned and walked out of the tavern determined to get the sword and return quickly and also a bit excited about his journey. He had never been to a big city before and he wondered what he might find there. Before leaving Toto, Kinnison and Shiro stopped at the small stream on the outskirts of the town. The extraordinary heat had left both of them parched and they needed to quench their thirst. After drinking their fill of the fresh water, the two returned to the main road out of Toto and walked towards the bridge leading out of town. Two City-State soldiers were stationed on the bridge. As Kinnison and Shiro approached, they were stopped by the soldiers. "No travelers are allowed at this time kid. Go back home where its safe." One of the soldiers said. "I have to get to Muse." Kinnison demanded. "It looks like the war is picking up again. Its not safe for travelers right now. Besides, how do we know that you aren't a Highland spy going to burn down our glorious capital?" Kinnison took a step back from the soldiers. "Me? A Highland spy? How could they think such a thing?" He thought to himself. "AWWOOOOOOOH!" Shiro suddenly barked. Quickly Shiro turned around and ran off in the opposite direction despite Kinnison yelling at him to come back. "Better go get your mutt boy. With this drought were having, people will eat anything. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The soldier laughed at his own sick sense of humor. Kinnison turned and gave chase to Shiro who had gone right back to the point in the stream where the two were drinking earlier. "What is it Shiro?" Kinnison questioned. Shiro walking across the stream. Kinnison had thought the stream was deeper than it actually was and didn't think it would be possible to walk across. "Good boy Shiro" "AWWOOOOOOOH!" After crossing the stream the two continued on to Muse to get Gregorio's sword. The walk wasn't as long as Kinnison had expected. A little bit over an hour and they were there. Finally Kinnison would get to see what it was like in the big city. Muse wasn't exactly what he had expected though. Buildings crowded together. Rude people pushing their way through the crowds. Very little evidence of mother natures existence was around. Disappointed was an understatement. But that wasn't his main concern right now. He had to find the blacksmith and return to Toto village so he could eat. Kinnison asked a few people where the blacksmith was, but most were too busy to give him an answer. Finally one girl pointed him in the right direction and Kinnison was able to find it. He walked in and immediately wondered how the blacksmith was able to work in such a smoldering environment. The heat outside was nothing compared to what it was in the blacksmiths workshop. The blacksmith looked up from his work and asked "what can I do for you laddy?" "Gregorio sent me, sir" Kinnison replied "I'm supposed to pick up a sword for him." "Gregorio, eh? So you know Gregorio? Your lucky son, Gregorio is a fine man. He can be a little abrasive at first but once you get to know him, he's got a heart of gold. Lemme see if I can find that sword for you. Ahhhhh yes, the Meliana sword. Ole Gregorio's originally from the Warrior's village, did ya know that? They name their swords after the woman that is most dear to them there. Poor Meliana, she died of loneliness 20 some odd years ago. Gregorio was out on a journey for a few months and the poor woman couldn't take being alone. When Gregorio came back and found out what happened, he left the village and moved to the City States. He opened up his little tavern in Toto and hasn't swung his sword since. I wonder why he wanted to have it sharpened up all of a sudden? Anyhow, here it is. Give Gregorio my best wishes and I hope to see you around kid." Kinnison thanked the blacksmith and quickly left the town. He didn't want to be rude to the old guy but he really couldn't have taken much more of his ramblings. Especially not with the hunger pains that were worsening by the minute. Kinnison and Shiro made their way back to Toto Village and reentered the village through the same section of the stream that they left. They then made their way back to Gregorio's tavern. Kinnison entered, walked up to the bar and handed Gregorio his sword. "Well done kid, a deal's a deal. Here's your payment, a bowl of rice for you and one for your pal here. Gregorio set a bowl of rice on the counter for Kinnison and another on the floor for Shiro. Kinnison and Shiro ate their food very quickly. After serving some other customers, Gregorio cam back to where Kinnison was sitting. Kinnison said "Tell me about Meliana" Gregorio, half surprised that Kinnison knew his late wife's name and half happy to hear someone mention her, smiled. He looked at Kinnison and asked "More rice kid?" Kinnison nodded. "Meliana was a great woman kid, the greatest...."
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